Skin Banjo Head

$26.15

Skin Banjo Head

For a truly original mellow banjo sound, a natural skin head is first choice. Unmounted calfskin; fits rims up to 12" in diameter.

Installation instructions included.

Choosing the right size banjo headMeasure your banjo for the correct head diameterYour banjo's rim may be slightly out of round, so take at least three diameter measurements at different points on the outside of the banjo's tone ring or rim top. Use the average diameter to the nearest 1/16" to order the correct size.

Most modern banjos use an 11"-diameter head. Modern makers of "old-time" open-back banjos usually use 11" (and sometimes 12") heads. Vintage banjos, however, may have a range of rim diameters from 10" to 12".

Choose the correct crown heightCrown height is the vertical distance from the top of the head's mounting band to the top surface of the head. A banjo with a flathead tone ring (or a flat-topped banjo) requires a medium or high crown head. A banjo with an archtop tone ring requires a low crown head. The correct crown height prevents the banjo's tension hoop from pulling down too far, and ensures the hoop won't be so high as to impede the strings.

Fantastic!

If you want your banjo to sound like all banjos used to, then put one of these on. Make sure your instrument has a "flesh hoop" before you order one, or just be prepared to make one when you're head material arrives. They come with great instructions that are good even if you've done a bunch before. You are working with actual animal skin so during the soaking and stretching there is a slight odor, but it smells like old times and good tunes!